The Office Oasis

Practices Put Patients At Ease By Bringing The Great Outdoors Indoors

Robin Santiago's courtyard is a soothing spot to sit and relax. With bright blue sky overhead, terra cotta tiles underfoot, comfortable benches with colorful cushions by a gently splashing tiered fountain and plenty of plants and flowers, it's a refuge from the nearby busy street.

Sally Martin, who is sitting by the fountain reading a magazine, is happy to share her thoughts on how much she enjoys the space -- until a nearby window opens, and she is interrupted by a statement that seems very much out of place in this peaceful haven:

``Doctor will see you now.''

Sally Martin is in her dentist's waiting room. No beige walls, no harsh fluorescent lighting, no whining dental drills and no smell of antiseptic. Instead, weathered shutters and a brimming window box frame the glass slider to the receptionist's area. Beyond the door leading to the treatment rooms, trompe l'oeil clouds float overhead.

A soft palette of Mediterranean blues, yellows, purple and rosy peach and apricot tones make Santiago's West Hartford dental suite as warm and inviting as a luxurious spa.

It wasn't always like this. Before moving her offices last year, Santiago practiced in a more traditional space. When she decided to move, she started to think outside the dental-office box.

``I wanted something that was a reflection of me and the things I love,'' says Santiago. ``I also wanted a comfortable, beautiful space for staff and patients. So I sat down with interior designer Tim Wooldridge to work out the details.''

It turned out her inspiration was as close as her last vacation.

``I'd been doing a lot of traveling in Spain. I speak Spanish, and I love all things Spanish,'' says Santiago. ``I'd brought home a poster of a village square with a fountain. It had the colors and the atmosphere that I wanted. We framed it, put it up and worked from there.''

Dr. Jeffrey Burns had a similar aha experience when he moved his Vernon dental office two years ago.

``I knew I wanted something different,'' says Burns. ``I'd seen slides of dental offices in the South overlooking a lush outdoor courtyard and thought that was cool but hard to maintain during New England winters. I sat down with my designer and brainstormed about how we could bring nature inside. While we were talking, his parrot was squawking. Inspiration struck.''

The result evokes a ``jaw-dropping'' moment when you walk through the front door of his offices and spot the expansive aviary occupying the center of the space. Filled with natural light from the skylight above, the glassed-in area is an oasis of trees, plants and fluttering birds. A burbling waterfall splashes down several tiers to a curving brook that meanders into a pool filled with darting fish and guarded by a tiny frog. The waiting room is done in a pleasing palette of green, blues and neutrals accented by warm wood tones. Softly curving half walls lead to comfortable banquette seating that provides an up-close view of the aviary.

Once patients are in the chair, there's no staring at acoustical ceiling tiles while opening wide. Treatment rooms arranged around the aviary have window walls so patients can observe nature while undergoing cleanings, fillings and other procedures.

Design experts say Santiago and Burns are part of a trend in health-care offices.

``The move is definitely to creating soothing, more human-friendly spaces,'' says Michelle Snyder, associate director of public relations for the American Society of Interior Designers in Washington. ``Call it `alleviating anxiety through design.'''

Studies show that the concept works. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have found that patients who are happier with their health-care environments need less medication and heal more quickly. Terri Maurer, past president of ASID and owner of an Ohio firm specializing in office design, says design elements such as lighting and color have been shown to have a positive effect on patient stress levels and recovery times.

``What used to be very institutional settings are changing into spaces much more calming and homelike,'' says Maurer. ``I recently saw a doctor's waiting area that looked very much like a private club, with high-backed wing chairs, stone fireplace, subdued lighting, brass candlesticks and planters. It looked like a private club, not a place to spike your blood pressure while waiting your turn to see the doctor.''

Another factor in the change is the bottom line. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, beautifully appointed `dental spas' -- many offering pampering spa services as well as dental work -- help alleviate patients' fears, help them feel more comfortable in the dental chair and encourage return visits for elective cosmetic work.